RAS EL'BAR
Documentary
(2024)
About
Ras El’Bar is a documentary developed and produced by PURO, filmed inside Gaza Camp in Jerash, Jordan. Through the lives of the Syam family, the film explores what it means to grow up, build a future and preserve an identity in a place that was meant to be temporary, yet has become home for generations. The project follows everyday life with an observational approach, moving beyond headlines to reveal the human stories that exist within the camp. Inspired by the treatment, the documentary uses one family’s experience to reflect the lives of more than 28,000 Palestinian refugees living in just 0.75 square kilometres.
Credits
Production
PURO
director
Gabriele Savino, Jawan Aklouk
executive producer
luca Gardella
For many, the words refugee camp evoke tents, emergency and impermanence. Gaza Camp tells a different story. Established in 1968, it has gradually transformed into a dense urban community where entire generations have been born, raised families and built their lives without ever leaving behind the condition of statelessness. It is a place suspended between memory and permanence—a city that still carries the name of a camp.
ather than explaining this reality through statistics or political commentary, Ras El’Bar observes it through ordinary moments. Conversations, family rituals, children playing in the streets and the rhythm of everyday life gradually reveal a world shaped by resilience, belonging and hope.
At the heart of the documentary is the Syam family. Across three generations, each member offers a different perspective on the camp. Om Mohammad preserves the memories of exile and the camp’s earliest years. Qaisar embodies the challenges of the present, while Mohammad works to create new opportunities for the community through education and entrepreneurship. The youngest generation, Tamim and Zaina, represent a future still being written. Together, their stories become a portrait of an entire community.
From early research and development to production, direction, cinematography and post-production, every stage of Ras El’Bar was developed by PURO in close collaboration with local partners. The documentary reflects our belief that meaningful stories are built through time, trust and genuine human connection.